The aim of both the research professorship and the cross-section group is the discovery and analysis of new forms of governance.

The research focuses on two forms of governance: Firstly, the Europeanization, which describes the process of developing genuine European governance structures and the ensuing change in the national state-level culture of governance. Secondly, globalization, by means of which new arrangements of governance beyond the national state are developing and resulting in the growing impact of non-state actors.

Furthermore, processes of changing statehood on the national level are examined not only as a way to gain insights into new structures of governance but also to help describe them.

In this context special attention is given to the increasing inter-connection of the public and private sector.

The cross-section group combines the research of different divisions and research groups within the WZB which focus their research on the topic of governance.